Summit Scratching Post 2011-07-05 13:38:27.000 - Julie & Daniel Cross,  Summit Volunteers Marty Sharpens His Claws I've had an amazing week at 6288 feet. It's been a rare privilege to get to know the observers and learn about the important work they do. Especially interesting to me is the mix of traditional and new technologies that the observers seamlessly blend to gather weather and climate data. We had clear skies the night of the 4th of July, enabling us to see fireworks displays from all over the surrounding towns. I hope to return often to enjoy the mountains. I am

Summit Eccentrics 2011-07-04 18:57:43.000 - Rick Giard,  Observer / Educational Specialist Prayer Flags Adorn Summit Trail Cairn As the newest staff member on the summit, and being incurably curious about everything related to Mount Washington and MWOBS, I am always searching for any and all information about this inconceivable place. For the scientist in me, there is the eternal quest for knowledge and understanding of the complex forces that shape the mountain and create its extreme conditions. For my amateur historian alter-ego, there is a rich and fascinating history and legacy to discover. An endless procession of characters and anecdotes

NULL 2011-07-03 13:51:00.000 - Tom Padham,  Summit Intern Showers approaching the summit After a pleasant day yesterday with warm temperatures and light winds the summit is experiencing rain showers and some fog. Fog is almost the status quo up here during the summer time, which can be a little demoralizing at times but it makes the moment the fog clears or a sunny day feel all the more spectacular. But one interesting thing about Mt Washington is how quick the weather changes up here (although not always for the better). We frequently see storm systems, but they usually move right

Utter Crap 2011-07-02 15:20:11.000 - Steve Welsh,  Observer / IT Specialist Visitors On The Summit After many months if finally looks like the Jefferson snow field is about to disappear. If you look very carefully at this photo under the arrow you may just make out a tiny white dot - that's it. Just think in a few months it will be back.Today has been very busy up here with lots of hikers and Auto Road/Cog visitors making the most of the holiday weekend and wonderful weather - with temperatures in the mid 50s and and only a slight breeze

The weekend is upon us! 2011-07-01 16:45:52.000 - Erin Diveny,  Summit Museum Supervisor Greetings from the Summit! Fourth of July weekend is upon us and business is picking up in the museum! The last couple of days have been cold, windy and in the fog, but we've still had plenty of visitors and once again sold lots of hats, gloves and sweatshirts.On a typical day at the museum I get asked a ton of question like, "Where's Marty?" Yesterday I was surprised when I got asked, "Where's Nin?" by a little boy who couldn't have been over five years old.

NULL 2011-06-30 16:05:29.000 - Peter Strand,  Summit Intern Our shift might need to be called the "Windy Shift" for the remainder of the summer. Since I arrive in May, our shift has hit 74 mph winds (hurricane force) every week. We even gusted to over 100 mph the other week. Meanwhile the other shift seems to experience less windy conditions, their peak wind gust last week was only 49 mph.As a side note, did you know that the "Windy City" isn't named after its high winds? Chicago doesn't even crack the list of top 10 U.S. windiest cities. Its average

NULL 2011-06-29 23:20:26.000 - Mike Carmon,  Observer / Meteorologist NULL Another one bites the dust!Just like that, a second observer that I've worked with since my time on the summit began has decided to move on from the Obs. If you read yesterday's comment, you know that I'm speaking, of course, of observer Mike Finnegan, who had his final day with us yesterday. Finnegan is actually the one observer I never really shared a shift with for any significant length of time. Back...way back...in the Fall of 2008, which seems like quite a while ago now, I was the fall

Movin' On... 2011-06-28 16:30:29.000 - Mike Finnegan,  Observer / IT Specialist It has been a rather wet and foggy week on the summit, but yesterday was the one exception to this. The sun shone brightly, the wind was nearly calm, and there wasn't a drop of precipitation! Jersey Jim from State, Steve, and I took advantage of the fine weather to hike a bit down Crawford Path. We hung out for a while just above the switchbacks and then moseyed our way back home, arriving just in time for dinner. After dinner I came upstairs to work on some music,

Clear at Last 2011-06-27 22:47:50.000 - Rebecca Scholand,  Summit Museum Supervisor NULL The past few days on the summit have been very foggy but that did not stop the flow of visitors. The Auto Road may have been closed for the day on Friday, half day Saturday and all day Sunday for Climb to the Clouds 2011 race, but the Cog Railway was running and adventurous hikers made their way to the summit. On Saturday I was lucky enough to meet David Higgins in the museum. David Higgins shattered the old record up the Auto Road raising the bar high,

Third Comment 2011-06-26 16:13:35.000 - Jaclyn Ritzman,  Summit Intern David Higgins and his winning car #75! With the exception of Wednesday, we have been in the clouds for the majority of our shift. Things up here on the summit have been pretty quiet due to the inclement weather, but conditions did not stop people from attending the Climb to the Clouds race this weekend. Unfortunately, their trial runs on Friday and Saturday were limited to the halfway point due to road conditions. Although, on Saturday after the practice runs were finished they opened the Mount Washington Auto Road to the